Wednesday 9 November 2011

Bits & Bobs


Confusion over Kevin the Koi: Stuart sent me a photo of Kevin (top) and when we compared it with the koi Dan and I caught, it's a different fish. Very similar, it even has damage to the same side - probably related. My vote is to call the new one Kylie, though I'm sure about the process of naming a fish - is there a form?
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Jack: One advantage of having a cold is I've written tons more Jack's Pike, the next book is well underway.
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Shop: I occasionally make t-shirts and stuff using online stores Cafe Press & Lulu. Sometimes they go on to sell well so I've collected everything together in one shop. Pike Blog Shop.
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Species: I'm pretty fascinated by the number of species of fish in the Wandte, so I've done a count...

Caught: Barbel, carp, chub, dace, eel, goldfish, gudgeon, koi, minnow, roach, stone loach (11). Seen: Brown trout, pike, rainbow trout, salmon, tench (5). Hearsay: Bream, bullhead, perch, pumpkinseed, rudd, ruffe, stickleback (7).

So that's a total of 23 species, plus two types of crab - a real mixed bag. If anyone knows of any others please let me know in the comments - thanks. Grayling? Crucians?

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[Edit: 11 November 2011]

So breaking the carp species down to specifics, the total number of species so far is 29:

Barbel, bream (bronze), bullhead, carp (crucian), carp (common), carp (leather), carp (mirror), chub, dace, eel, grayling, goldfish, goldfish (brown), gudgeon, koi (ghost), koi (ornamental), minnow, perch, pike, pumpkinseed, roach, rudd, ruffe, salmon, stickleback, stone loach, tench, trout (brown), trout (rainbow).

6 comments:

  1. Great Post Brian,
    As for the nameing of the fish, Well cant say i have ever done this sort of thing, Thats a lot of different species for one water, I wonder whats in there that has never been caught,
    Makes the mind boggle,
    ,,,Paddy,,,

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  2. I can confirm that rudd, ruffe, bream, perch and stickleback do definetly exist in the river but not in huge numbers. Also grayling have been caught along with at least one crucian that I have seen.

    Stew

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  3. So breaking the carp species down to specifics, the total number of species is 28:

    barbel, bream, bullhead, carp (crucian), carp (common), carp (leather), carp (mirror), chub, dace, eel, grayling, goldfish, gudgeon, koi (ghost), koi (ornamental), minnow, perch, pike, pumpkinseed, roach, rudd, ruffe, salmon, stickleback, stone loach, tench, trout (brown), trout (rainbow).

    Of which Dan and myself have caught 13 over the past 2 seasons. One idea for next season's challenge is to try and catch as many of them as possible. I think catching them all is pretty impossible as only 1 salmon and 1 pike have been seen and a pumpkinseed hasn't been caught in the last 7 years (according to the bank-side chatter). Just an idea for next season...

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  4. I think there where Grayling "once upon a time" in the upper reaches. I never managed to see any when I was growing up next to the river in question.

    Seem to remember a few grayling centred tales from a couple of old boys who used to fish "my" stretch, having said that they were pretty munted every time I saw them :)

    There were quite a few Golden Orfe (Presumably kicked out of someone’s pond)and shed loads of Brown and Rainbow Trout courtesy of the Thames Water Authority.

    If we wanted Carp or Tench we headed for Mitcham Seven Islands / One Island or good old Crystal Palace Park!

    I love reading your Blog, it's great to see that river is still fighting fit.

    Ade

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  5. Hi Brian,
    I've caught perch below the weir, near Weir Road. They were living in a submerged washing machine!

    I'm a member of the Wandle Piscators and fellow members have caught grayling on Wandle Bank. The club has its own species hunt trophy for the most species caught.

    One you haven't mentioned is the mighty catfish. The Darent was apparently home to one, a few years back!

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1458683.stm

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